Low level of the plasma sphingolipid, glucosylceramide, is associated with thrombotic diseases.

ABSTRACT:

Background

One previous pilot study suggested the association of low plasma glucosylceramide (GlcCer) levels with venous thrombosis (VTE) risk.

Objective

We aimed to confirm and evaluate the association of low plasma GlcCer levels with VTE and myocardial infarction (MI) occurrence, respectively.

Patients and methods

We evaluated the association of GlcCer in two independent case-control studies of Caucasian VTE populations (N = 210 and 636) and one case-control study of Caucasian MI patients (N = 345).

Result

Plasma GlcCer levels in VTE patients were lower compared to controls in two independent VTE populations (5.0 vs 5.8 μg/mL, p = 0.003 for the Scripps registry, and 5.6 vs 6.0 μg/mL, p = 0.001 for the Valencia registry, respectively). A low plasma GlcCer level (below 10th percentile of controls) was associated with increased VTE occurrence [odds ratio (OR) = 3.7 (95%CI, 1.8-7.9) for Scripps registry and OR = 2.1 (95%CI, 1.3-3.3) for Valencia registry, respectively). For the MI study, the median GlcCer plasma level was lower in MI patients than in controls (4.3 vs 5.6 μg/mL, p<0.001), and a low level of GlcCer (below 10th percentile of control) was associated with higher MI occurrence [OR = 7.7, (95%CI, 4.3-13.8)].

Conclusion

Lower concentration of GlcCer was associated with VTE occurrence in two independent studies and also with MI occurrence in one study.

SUBMITTER: Deguchi H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5703432 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature